What's a good success rate with chillie seeds?

[Polarbear]

I can't find the old chillie thread so asking this here.

I'm pretty good with plants, they like me and usually grow quite happily. My triffids (carniverous plants) are almost big enough to eat a cat.

However my chillies are not doing so well. In a propogation tray of 12 I'm getting 1, at best 2 germinating. It's pretty much the same ratio what ever type of chillie plant I am growing. These are in the house. The ones in the greenhous haven't germinated at all so I suppose it's too cold for them yet.

So is a 10% success rate reasonable or am I doing something stupid. I know I shouldn't fuss about it as I have plenty of seeds and it's no big deal to plant another few trays but it's just annoying.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[MCN]

Maybe this should be in workshop.

Or wee need a new section as the massive may be getting on in years.

"Nightshade is a family of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. Tobacco is also in the nightshade family. Nightshades are unique because they contain small amounts of alkaloids.

Alkaloids are chemicals that are mainly found in plants. For something to be considered an alkaloid, it must contain nitrogen and affect the human body, usually from a medicinal perspective. Morphine and quinine are two examples of plant-based medicines that contain alkaloids."

I think you have a substrate issue either that or old seeds.

I used to grow chilli in W. Africa along side Watermelon, Pineapple and Weed.

The only issue there was shading the young plants from intense sun and drought.
But I had a Garden Boy. Yes... I was an owner.

For plant stuff I use RHS as the goto.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/chilli-pepper/grow-your-own
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[WD Forte]

[stinkwheel]

I usually get about 70-% but that's in a heated prop frame in good quality #2 seed compost in a south facing porch. That said, I generally plant end of February. They need heat and lots of light.

They can take a good couple of weeks to germinate. Don't water too much too soon as they can rot before they are through. Don't plant them deep. Surface plant and BARELY cover the seeds.

I plant them in individual cells, 2 to a cell and prick out the worse one of the two if both come up.

I have differing success with different varieties when it comes to germination. The hybrid "super chilli" seems very robust, as are jalapenos and peruvian/aji lemons. The stupid hot ones are finnicky. For some reason, I've never managed to get bulgarian carrots to germinate despite them supposedly being one of the hardiest and easiest varieties. I've tried three times with seeds from 3 different places.

Chilli growing thread:
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=179642
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bhud]

When it's finally warm enough they will come up.

[Easy-X]

A heated propagating bed will speed things up.
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[Ribenapigeon]

I easily get 70% and the best seeds were ones from an Aldi plant i got years ago. I didn't plant any this year though. I just use general purpose potting compost amd stsrt in a covered tray on a sunny window.

[dave001]

[Bhud]

Nah, the medicine is too expensive to risk a 90% loss rate - he would have made it happen by using a controlled environment (jar, then shortening the periods in darkness, then potting). Fairly sure he must be growing chillis. An elderly relative I didn't like very much knew all the ins and outs of chillis (100% success rate), and used to grow absolute killers. Nothing like the seeds we try to grow nowadays - they made the shop-bought ones seem like peppers, in comparison. I have a high tolerance but those original strain bhut jolokia definitely kept you warm. Lost the strain.

[Nobby the Bastard]

My brother in law, the auctioneer, winning a chilli eating competition at Bath Uni.

The person shouting at him to sit the fuck down and he'll win was me. I'm not stupid enough to eat the chillis...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gWNP4Jv4JA
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[dave001]

my mrs use eat tones of em like a bag of crisps watching TV, but shes not from UK

if i done that i need a new stomach lining. one of my rotties as a pup use nick em and got a likeing for really hot chillys

that dog want normal it would eat a bag of scorpiain chillys if you let it

it would munch em like a horse eating suger lumps. may a fool thourt it was a trick and they were not hot to they tryed one

[Bhud]

Dogs so often prove they are at the very least our equals. Think there's an old saying from the east: "how can a monkey know the taste of ginger". What dogs ya got mate? Better than monkeys, that's for sure.

[dave001]

[Easy-X]

Back to the growing... my mum (botanist) says it's just down to temperature. The wife suggests after watering to bag up the tray of plants to trap even more heat, e.g. a clear bag to make a mini-greenhouse.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[stinkwheel]

Not planting them too deep is also important, they are weak seeds so they can't push up very far through a load of compost. They need to be up and out in the light soon after they germinate or they'll just rot.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bhud]

This is what I've been saying. It's nowhere near warm enough, but when it is, most of them will come up. Just under 1 inch below the compost.

[stinkwheel]

[Bhud]

That's fair enough - whatever works so you can see they're doing something. They've got to be warm but they're doing something under there. Just a light compost layer - not compacted. The main point is that they can't be deceived or rushed; when it's warm they know, and they come up then. It's productivity that's the hard bit. I made a cold frame and moving the infant plants around indoors or outdoors and in different light in the summer last year and the year before made little difference to the rate of 4 to max 10 chillis per plant. Germination I don't see as the hard bit. First the right seeds, second the climate and light management once they're thriving.

[dave001]

ideal temp for chilly seeds is 27-32°C and you need to maintain a humidity of 70percent

if temp is higer they may germinate faster but sucsess rate will be lower
dont get too wet and drown the seed

[Polarbear]

[Nobby the Bastard]

The most amusing bit is the approx 100 yards of shrubbery that ends up sprayed white with milk by the contestants.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050